Electric snap-switch.



W. VAN P. STE'IGBR. ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DE043,1908,

1,020,231, Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a 164% MM m nus-rs W. VAN P. STEIGER.

- ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC, a, 1903,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNFASES mvsmofl ATTORN EYS Patented Mar 12, 1912.

' provements in Electric Snap-Switches, of

UNITED sra'rnsrarnnr orrion.

WALTER VAN PATTEN STEIGER, OF FBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, AS SIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SNAP-SWITCH.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

:ltented Mar. 12, 11912.

S'rnIonn, a citizen'of the United States of America, and residing atBridgepoi-t, in the county of Fan-field and State of Connecticut have invented certain new and useful Imwhich the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to electric switch mechanisms more particularly applicable for use in key sockets and rotary snap switches, andone of the objects of my. in-

vention is to construct a simple but el'licient switch mechanism, whereby a rotary motion of the spindle in either direction will produce quick make and break movements of the switch lever.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of an incandescent'electrio lamp socket provided with my invention; Fig. 2. is a sectional perspective view of the main parts of the switch; Fig. 3 a sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 5; Fig. 4 is a corresponding perspective view; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a rotary snap switch constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77, Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, A is a one-piece insulating button of porcelain or other suitable material suitably chambered to receive the switch mechanism and having secured to one face the terminal screw shell S to rc ceive and hold the lam base. The usual central terminal T for the lamp base forms a continuation or portion of the bent plate t, (Fig. 5) secured to one side of the insulation and carrying the binding screw The other terminal binding screw 1 is carried by the frame plate F of the switch mechanlsm, This frame plate has two cars 10 to provide bearings for the transverse operating spindle E having the usual key head or handle 0 by which the spindle may be rotated continuously in either direction. This frame F also carries a fixed spindle f, on which the switch bar or lever D is pivoted. The bottom of the screw shell S may be pro vided with clips 8, Figs. 1 and 8, with which the outer end of this switch lever may make contact (Fig. 1) or break it (Fig. 3).

The spindle E has mounted upon it a cam H and upon its extreme end two curved flanges G, G, leaving intermediate breaks or notches g. These flanges G, G form retaining means to engage a finger (l on the switch bar I), and hold the latter temporarily during the tensioning of the spring K, which is roiled around the fixed spindle f. This spring has its two legs 113/0, adapted to bear on opposite sides of a projection (l on the switch bar or lever D, and these two legs of the spring are continued beyond the projection (P, so as to lie. in the path of the cam II, on opposite sides thereof, as shown in the drawings.

Assuming the switch to be closed as illustrated in Fig. l, which shows the )ositlons of the parts when the lever D has just snapped into engagement with the clips 8 to close the circuit, the finger (Z (l ig. 2) will then be in a position to ride on the outside of either retaining flange Gr, G depending upon which way the key is turned. Rotary motion of the key spindle in either direction will then bring the cam II around to press on the leg 7.: of the spring K. Let us assume that the key is turned in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 1 and 2, the result will be that the cam l-l pressing upon the log L" of the spring while the leg I; of the spring is held back by the projection (l of the switch lever, will tension the spring,

so that when the rotation of the spindle l!) in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, brings the finger (Z to the notch g, the spring R will cause the lover I) to make a quick break at A further rotation of the spindle in either direction will cause the cam H to leave the log it" of the spring and to act upon the leg in, but meantime the finger cl having passed through the notch y will be engaged with the inner face of the flange G (or G and will be held back in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4: and 5, until the finger Z comes opposite the next notch 9 (Figs. 3 and t), out of which it snaps undcr the action of the meantime tensioned. spring.

In Figs. (hand 7 I have shown my invention applied to a rotary surface single pole and also carries a part G the same as the fin er upon the switch lever B. This -sw1tch lever has spring fingers d d, to

contact with the fingers C and O and there by close the circuit in one position of the lever D and to make a double break when in the other osition of the -lever. In Figs. 6 and 7, the ever is shown in the open 011- cuit position.

I claim as my invention- 1. An "electric switch mechanism, comprising a frame, an oscillating switch lever and two-legged spring in combination with a rotary operating spindle capable of continuous rotation in either direction, and having a cam to act on either leg of the spring and having also curved flanges to temporarily detain the lever. I

2. An electric switch mechanism, com prising a frame, an oscillating switch lever having a finger and a projection and a two-- legged spring to bear on the latter, incombination with a rotary operating spindle.

capable of continuous rotation in either direction, and having a cam to act on either leg of the spring and having also curved combination withspring means to act on the a lever, and a rotary operating spindle capable of continuous rotatlon in either dlrection, said lever carrying a cam to act on the spring and detents to act on the lever,

whereby rotary motion of the spindle is converted into an oscillating motion of the switch lever with snapaction, substantially as described. 7 a

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WAIlTER VAN PATTEN ST IGER- Witnesses: f G. W. Goonamen,

H. W. GOLDSBOROUGH. 

